Eschscholzia californica Cham.
California Poppy
The Californian poppy is a bright, free-flowering plant native to the western United States and Mexico, where it is the state flower of California. In British gardens it is usually grown as a hardy annual.
About
The Californian poppy is a bright, free-flowering plant native to the western United States and Mexico, where it is the state flower of California. In British gardens it is usually grown as a hardy annual. It forms low, spreading mounds of finely divided, blue-green, ferny foliage above which sit silky, cup-shaped flowers, classically a vivid orange but also gold, yellow and warmer red shades. The blooms open in sunshine and close in dull weather, appearing through the summer.
A drought-tolerant plant, it thrives in full sun on poor, light, sharply drained soils and resents rich or wet ground. The open flowers are readily visited by bees and hoverflies. Though not a British native, it is a reliable and colourful choice for annual seed mixes, gravel gardens, sunny borders and dry banks, and once established it often self-sows freely to reappear year after year.
Also known as
California golden poppy · California goldenpoppy · California-poppy · Californian Poppy
Synonyms
Chryseis californica · Eschscholzia californica californica · Eschscholzia cornuta · Eschscholzia douglasii · Eschscholzia minutiflora
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.